Grant "Sam" Mackey Jr.

1922 - 2009

MONMOUTH - Grant 'Sam' Mackey Jr., age 86, passed away at 5:40 a.m. on April 6, 2009, at OSF Holy Family Medical Center in Monmouth. Grant was born Dec. 6, 1922, in rural Berwick, to Grant Sr. and Mary (Newman) Mackey. He attended rural school at 'Muddy Corners' near Berwick. He married Ruth G. Poulson on Dec. 17, 1942, in Aledo.

Grant was a grain and livestock farmer all his life and first worked for Lum Green and Lester Tinkham in the Cameron area for a time. He then farmed his own farms in Dahinda and north of Monmouth in Spring Grove Township. His main interests were his family and work.

Sam is survived by his wife, Ruth G. Mackey of Monmouth; a daughter, Susan M. Wade of Wataga; sons, George G. Mackey Sr. of Aledo, and Roger L. (Nancy) Mackey of Eldridge, Iowa. Twelve grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren are surviving. Four sisters survive, Alice Bailey of Texas, Rose Deshane of Peoria, Ruby Marie of Peoria, and Margaret Carrington of Homer. He was preceded in death by one son, Lester Sam Mackey; five sisters; and four brothers.

Funeral service will at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 9 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth. No calling hours are planned by his family. Interment will be in the Warren County Memorial Park Cemetery. A memorial fund is being established for Warren County Relay for Life. For more information, please visit www.turnbullfuneralhomes.com.